Windermerehttp://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts
Clear the Clutter and Help Others in Need!<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2417/content_IMG_5435_polaroid.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 351px; float: left;" />It&rsquo;s springtime, which means spring cleaning for many households. It&rsquo;s also a time to declutter and purge all those worn out, unwanted, outdated, unused and unneeded items from our closets, garages and other storage spaces.</p>
<p>But what do you do with all that stuff once you&rsquo;ve decided to get rid of it? First, you&rsquo;ll want to sort it all into various piles (sell, dump, or donate). For items that you can easily sell to get some extra cash, you can advertise on online sites such as eBay or craigslist, or take to a local consignment store. And many of your items can be donated to be reused by someone else. Your junk could be someone else&rsquo;s treasure or be resold to provide funding for programs that help people in need. And some places will even take items that would normally go in the trash as long as it&rsquo;s not wet, moldy or contains hazardous materials.</p>
<p>Thrift stores are probably the first places that come to mind, but there are a lot of other non-profit, charitable organizations in your area that would be more than willing to take your spring-cleaning discards. Here is a list of some organizations to give you an idea of the many possibilities.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nwfurniturebank.org/"><strong>NW Furniture Bank</strong></a></p>
<p>NW Furniture Bank in Tacoma, Washington serves victims of domestic abuse, people suffering loss from fire and natural disasters, foster homes and especially families coming from transitional housing who are trying to rebuild their lives. NWFB relies on furniture donations from the community to help furnish the homes of families and individuals in need. They only accept new or gently-used items. View <a href="http://www.nwfurniturebank.org/items-we-accept">accepted donation items</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/ecoconsumer/threadcycle.asp"><strong>Threadcycle</strong></a></p>
<p>In King County, Washington, there is actually a place that accepts damaged clothes, shoes and linens for reuse or recycling. Even torn, badly worn or even stained items are now being taken by most large collectors in the area, as long as they&rsquo;re not wet, mildewed, or contaminated with hazardous materials. Many other items, including stuffed animals, purses, belts, and other accessories can be donated in any condition&mdash;even single shoes, socks and gloves! Choose from several drop off or pick up organizations at <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/threadcycle">www.kingcounty.gov/threadcycle</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.babycorner.org/donate-goods/"><strong>Eastside Baby Corner</strong></a></p>
<p>Eastside Baby Corner in Issaquah, Washington gives to eastside families struggling with job loss, homelessness, medical crisis, and poverty. Bringing EBC the clothes, toys or furniture that your child has outgrown is an easy way to recycle and help a deserving child. When you donate new or gently-used goods, you can be confident that they will be in the hands of a local child&mdash;at no cost to the family or to one of their qualified partner agencies&mdash;almost immediately.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://bagsofloveinc.org/donate-items"><strong>Bags of Love</strong></a></p>
<p>Bags of Love in Eugene, Oregon provides necessities and comfort items to children who are in crisis due to neglect, abuse, poverty or homelessness. They appreciate donations of new or gently used items for children ages birth through 17.&nbsp;Your donation will immediately be in the hands of a local child at no cost to the family or to our qualified partner agencies.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sunshinedivision.org/give-food-or-clothing/"><strong>Sunshine Division</strong></a></p>
<p>The Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division in Portland, Oregon has been providing food and clothing relief to Portland families and individuals in need since 1923. They accept food donations, as well as donations of new and gently used clothing items. Most needed items in all sizes are: men&rsquo;s clothes, women&rsquo;s plus-sized clothes, adult and children&rsquo;s shoes, and new children&rsquo;s socks and underwear.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.habitat.org/getinv/materials_donations.aspx"><strong>Habitat for Humanity</strong></a></p>
<p>Habitat for Humanity has ReStores all over the U.S. and Canada where you can donate building materials, furniture, and/or appliances. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are proudly owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, and proceeds are used to build homes, community, and hope locally and around the world.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodwill.org/"><strong>Goodwill</strong></a></p>
<p>There are Goodwill locations across the U.S. Donations to Goodwill has helped to create training and job opportunities for those in our communities. Plus, over the past few years, it has kept billions of pounds of clothing and household items out of landfills. They accept most clothing and household items, but don&rsquo;t drop off items that have been recalled, banned or do not meet current safety standards. For specialty items such as computers, vehicles or mattresses, it&rsquo;s best to give your local Goodwill agency a call first to find out any rules or restrictions around these items.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Donation Bins</strong></p>
<p>Another option would be to just take your items to a donation bin. While it may be more convenient for you to drop off your items at a nearby donation bin, unfortunately, many goods that wind up in donation bins end up supporting for-profit groups, rather than aiding non-profit, charitable organizations. To help you make informed donation decisions, you can use this handy guide created by Goodwill.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodwill.org/donate-and-shop/donate-stuff/"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2416/content_Donation-Bin-Field-Guide.jpg" style="width: 700px; height: 700px;" /></a></p>
spokane-north.windermere.com/uploads/blog_post_featured_images/blog_post/images/1181/thumb_IMG_5435_polaroid.jpgClear the Clutter and Help Others in Need!http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/clear-the-clutter-and-help-others-in-need
Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:06:00 -0700http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/clear-the-clutter-and-help-others-in-need
http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/clear-the-clutter-and-help-others-in-needNine Ways to Landscape for Maximum Curb Appeal<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2405/content_1.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 359px;" /></p>
<p><em><span itemprop="publisher" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Organization">Photo courtesy of :&nbsp;<a href="http://porch.com/projects/madison-park-mid-century-modern-51132762" target="_blank">Darren Patt Construction</a></span></em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="http://porch.com/advice/10-ways-to-landscape-for-maximum-curb-appeal/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 43, 91); text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; background: transparent;">Porch.com</a></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Written by <a href="http://porch.com/advice/author/jacquia/">Jacqui Adams</a></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are a million and one ways to add curb appeal, but your home&rsquo;s landscaping is one of the most important.</p>
<p>Home sale price data shows that&nbsp;<a href="http://porch.com/advice/top-10-diy-home-improvements-for-selling-everyone-should-know-about/" target="_blank">you&rsquo;ll get double your investment back on landscaping</a>&nbsp;when you&rsquo;re trying to sell your home. But it doesn&rsquo;t take a scientist to see that a drab lawn and an overgrown tree can&nbsp;ruin even the most beautiful home&rsquo;s mojo.</p>
<p>Don&rsquo;t let bad landscaping ruin your home&rsquo;s appearance. These&nbsp;10 tips will help you get your landscaping gorgeous and maximize your curb appeal so you can sell your home for what it&rsquo;s really worth, or just enjoy a lovely home year round.</p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>1. &nbsp;Play to Your Strengths</h3>
<p>Don&rsquo;t plant haphazardly. Take a look at the colors of your home, and choose plantings that make those colors pop.</p>
<p><a href="https://porch.com/projects/the-woods-outback-1" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2406/content_2.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 449px;" /></a></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/the-woods-outback-1" target="_blank">Gelotte Hommas</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>2. Add Some Color</h3>
<p>If you can&rsquo;t find plants that tie in with the colors of your home&rsquo;s exterior, then place large-scale glazed planters that pick out the same tones and make even mismatched plantings look intentional.</p>
<p><a href="https://porch.com/projects/laurelhurst-residence-2" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2407/content_3.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 422px;" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://porch.com/projects/gilman-1"><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;</a><em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/laurelhurst-residence-2" target="_blank">Grouparchitect</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>3.&nbsp;Lead the Way</h3>
<p>Curb appeal starts at the curb, so make sure the path to your door is clearly defined. Decorative urns or colorful border plantings are two high-impact ways to do the job.</p>
<p><a href="https://porch.com/projects/1449811-12" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2408/content_4.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 324px;" /></a></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/1449811-12" target="_blank">Edmund D. Hollander Architect Landscape Design</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>4. Make it Shine</h3>
<p>Landscaping features such as paths, walls, and other hardscaping get dirty over time, making the home&rsquo;s whole exterior look dingy and dark. Make sure to have your landscaped features professionally pressure-washed, so they can shine.</p>
<p><a href="https://porch.com/projects/207029-1" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2409/content_5.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" /></a></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/207029-1" target="_blank">Phil Kean Designs</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>5. Tailor Border Plantings</h3>
<p>Large, scraggly, or random-looking&nbsp;plants can overwhelm&nbsp;new eyes and obscure features of your home that you should be playing up. Make sure your border plantings are tidy, grouped by color, and just large enough to cover up foundations and external vents, without covering windows or&nbsp;impinging on paths.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://porch.com/projects/landscape-remodel-6" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2410/content_6.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 399px;" /></a></em></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/landscape-remodel-6" target="_blank">Ag-Trac Enterprises LC</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>6. Brighten House Numbers</h3>
<p>Small details like your house numbers can make a big difference in the overall effect of your landscaping and curb appeal. Replace or paint house numbers so they pop&ndash;you could even coordinate them with your door color or the accent color you&rsquo;ve chosen for your landscape plantings.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://porch.com/projects/madison-park-mid-century-modern-51132762" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2411/content_7.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" /></a></em></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/madison-park-mid-century-modern-51132762" target="_blank">Darren Patt Construction</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>7. Trim Trees</h3>
<p>Cutting down trees is one landscaping rule of thumb that&rsquo;s no longer completely necessary. Trees can add charm and character, particularly in rustic-styled properties&ndash;just make sure trees are trimmed to complement the house&rsquo;s best qualities. Light and sightlines should be able to reach the house easily.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://porch.com/projects/new-custom-home-construction" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2412/content_8.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" /></a></em></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/new-custom-home-construction" target="_blank">Seaside Construction</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>8. Light the Path</h3>
<p>If you haven&rsquo;t invested in landscape lighting, consider it: it can seriously boost your curb appeal. Lighting under steps, on path borders, and trained on trees and water features will allow your landscaping&rsquo;s best features to shine even on gloomy days.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://porch.com/projects/shillington-outdoor-living" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2413/content_9.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 887px;" /></a></em></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/shillington-outdoor-living" target="_blank">Advanced Renovations, Inc.</a></em></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>9. Create a Soft Landing</h3>
<p>Draw buyers and visitors in by softening the transition between your home and the street. Potted plantings on a porch, green wreaths on the door, and a path that meanders through your landscape instead of going straight to the door are three great tricks to try.</p>
<p><em><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2414/content_10.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 900px;" /></em></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of</em>&nbsp;<em><a href="http://porch.com/projects/gilman-1" target="_blank">Wentworth, Inc.</a></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Could your curb appeal use some help? What&rsquo;s the first change you&rsquo;ll make once the weather gets warm?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://porch.com/advice/author/jacquia/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2415/content_11.jpg" style="width: 80px; height: 80px; float: left;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://porch.com/advice/author/jacquia/">Jacqui Adams</a></p>
<p>Content Marketing Specialist, Porch.com. Jacqui Adams is a writer and editor living in Seattle. She shares a cozy midcentury fixer-upper with her fianc&eacute;, her cat, and approximately eight bazillion books. Follow Jacqui on Twitter at @JacquiLeeLu.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
spokane-north.windermere.com/uploads/blog_post_featured_images/blog_post/images/1179/thumb_1.jpgNine Ways to Landscape for Maximum Curb Appealhttp://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/nine-ways-to-landscape-for-maximum-curb-appeal
Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:02:00 -0700http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/nine-ways-to-landscape-for-maximum-curb-appeal
http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/nine-ways-to-landscape-for-maximum-curb-appealUpdate: A Legislative Effort Is Now Underway In Congress To Extend The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act<p style="background: white;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2402/content_House5.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: left;" />UPDATE: Senators Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) have introduced a bipartisan bill that would extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act through 2015 and all of 2016. Heller is an influential member of the Senate Finance Committee and has pledged to attach the bill to a larger piece of legislation that is moving through his committee. We will keep you posted on the progress of the extension as the process moves forward.</span></strong></p>
<p style="background: white;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="background: white;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="background: white;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="background: white;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Originally posted in&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/categories/short-sales/posts" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 43, 91); text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Short Sales</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;on December 22, 2014</span></em><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" />
&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act&nbsp;Extended Retroactively for 2014:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Future of Mortgage Debt Relief Uncertain in 2015</strong></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">On December 16, 2014, President Obama signed a bill that extended the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act retroactively to cover mortgage debt cancelled in 2014. The&nbsp;Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act&nbsp;(MFDRA) prevents&nbsp;homeowners who went through a short sale&nbsp;from being taxed on the amount of their&nbsp;home mortgage debt&nbsp;that had been forgiven. For homeowners to qualify for a tax break in 2014, their&nbsp;short sale&nbsp;must close by December 31, 2014.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">The Act has only been extended through 2014. Congress is expected to debate further extension of the Act as part of a larger tax package in 2015. In the meantime, mortgage debt forgiven by a lender in 2015 might count as taxable income.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">According to a&nbsp;brief from the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.realtor.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 43, 91); text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; background: transparent;">National Association of Realtors&nbsp;(NAR),</a>&nbsp;about&nbsp;<a href="http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/09/09/10-home-owners-still-underwater" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 43, 91); text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; background: transparent;">5.3 million homes are still under water</a>. In addition, there are still more than 1 million homes in the process of foreclosure. If the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act is not extended further, hundreds of thousands of American families who did the right thing by short-selling their home will have to pay income tax on income they never received.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">IRS &ldquo;Insolvency Clause&rdquo; Offers Tax-Saving Alternative</strong></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">Short sale sellers can still be exempt from tax liability under the &ldquo;insolvency clause&rdquo; of the Internal Revenue Code. The clause states that a seller is exempt from paying tax on any forgiven debt to the extent that they are insolvent. In other words, if the seller&rsquo;s debts and liabilities exceed their assets by more than the amount of debt forgiven, they do not have to pay taxes on the forgiven debt.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here&rsquo;s an example of how the Insolvency Clause works:</strong></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">A seller has a home valued at $300,000, but the mortgage debt is $400,000. We short sell the property for $300K and the bank elects to forgive the debt on the $100,000 shortfall amount. Since debt that has been forgiven counts as taxable income, the&nbsp;IRS&nbsp;would treat the $100,000 of forgiven debt as income.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; width: 400px; background-color: transparent;" width="400">
<tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">MORTGAGE DEBT</p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">$400,000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">SALE PRICE</p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">-$300,000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">FORGIVEN DEBT<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
(Taxable income)</p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">$100,000</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">This is where the insolvency clause formula comes in. Begin by adding up all of your debts/liabilities in one column and all of your assets in another. For this formula, the IRS wants you to include the mortgage debt as a liability, and the fair market value of your house as an asset. Let&rsquo;s say you have $600,000 in assets and $700,000 in debts/liabilities. You are insolvent by $100,000.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; width: 400px; background-color: transparent;" width="400">
<tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<td style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 57px;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">ASSETS</p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 57px;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">$600,000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">LIABILITIES</p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">-$700,000</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">INSOLVENCY</p>
</td>
<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">[$100,000]</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">Since your insolvency amount of $100,000 equals the forgiven debt amount of $100,000, it&rsquo;s a wash and you will not have to pay taxes on that forgiven debt. You are shielded dollar-for-dollar on the amount of forgiven debt up to your insolvency number. Let&rsquo;s say you were only insolvent by $80,000. In that case, you would still have to pay income tax on the remaining $20,000 of forgiven debt.</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">INSOLVENCY</p>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">[$100,000]</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">FORGIVEN DEBT</p>
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<td style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">-$100,000</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">TAXABLE INCOME</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">-0-</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">It is critical that homeowners considering a short sale meet with a professional to review their options and discuss the potential legal and tax implications.</strong></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; word-wrap: break-word;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><img alt="" src="http://www.windermere.com/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2167/content_EasternRichard.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; height: 225px; width: 150px; float: left;" />Richard Eastern is a Windermere broker in Bellevue, WA and co-founder of</em>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washortsales.com/Why_use_WPS__owner.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 43, 91); text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; background: transparent;">Washington Property Solutions,</a>&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">a short sales negotiating company. Since 2003 he has helped more than 900 homeowners sell their homes. A Bellevue native and a University of Washington grad, Richard is an avid sports fan and a devoted Little League and basketball coach. You can</em>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.windermere.com/agents/richard-eastern-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(15, 43, 91); text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; background: transparent;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">learn more about Richard h</em></a></p>
</div>
spokane-north.windermere.com/uploads/blog_post_featured_images/blog_post/images/1178/thumb_House5.jpgUpdate: A Legislative Effort Is Now Underway In Congress To Extend The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Acthttp://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/update-a-legislative-effort-is-now-underway-in-congress-to-extend-the-mortgage-forgiveness-debt-relief-act
Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:49:00 -0700http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/update-a-legislative-effort-is-now-underway-in-congress-to-extend-the-mortgage-forgiveness-debt-relief-act
http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/update-a-legislative-effort-is-now-underway-in-congress-to-extend-the-mortgage-forgiveness-debt-relief-actHow to Hire a Home Inspector <p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2396/content_dreamstime_s_43965589.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 450px; float: left;" />Is this year you make the leap to buy your first home?</p>
<p>A home is a major investment and, for many people, the greatest financial asset they have. With so much at stake, it makes sense to do what you can to protect your financial interest. Getting a home inspection is a smart, simple way to do just that.</p>
<p>When you make a written offer on a home, insist that the offer provide that your contract is contingent on a home inspection conducted by a qualified inspector. You&rsquo;ll have to pay for the inspection yourself, but an investment of a few hundred dollars could save you thousands of dollars and years of headaches. If you&rsquo;re satisfied with the results of the inspection and are assured that the home you&rsquo;re purchasing is in good shape, you can proceed with your transaction, confident that you are making a smart purchase.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Hire a professional</strong></p>
<p>When you are ready to hire a home inspector, be sure they&rsquo;re licensed in your state. They should be able to provide you with their license number, which you can use to verify their status with the appropriate government agency. The best way to find an inspector is to ask your real estate agent for a recommendation. Even among licensed and qualified home inspectors, there can be a difference in knowledge, performance, and communication skills, so l it&rsquo;s a good idea to do some research to ensure that you get the type of inspection you need.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What to ask your home inspector</strong></p>
<p>Ask the right questions to make sure you are hiring the right professional for the job.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>What does your inspection cover?</em></p>
<p>Insist that you get this information in writing. Then make sure that it&rsquo;s in compliance with state requirements and includes the items you want inspected.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>How long have you been in the business?</em></p>
<p>Ask for referrals, especially with newer inspectors.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Are you experienced in residential inspections?</em></p>
<p>Residential inspection in a unique discipline with specific challenges, so it&rsquo;s important to make sure the inspector is experienced in this area.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Do you make repairs or make improvements based on inspection?</em></p>
<p>Some states and/or professional associations allow the inspector to perform repair work on problems uncovered in an inspection. If you&rsquo;re considering engaging your inspector to do repairs, be sure to get referrals.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>How long will the inspection take?</em></p>
<p>A typical single-family dwelling takes two to three hours.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>How much will it cost?</em></p>
<p>Costs can vary depending upon a variety of things, such as the square footage, age, and foundation of the house.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>What type of report will you provide and when will I get it?</em></p>
<p>Ask to see samples to make sure you understand his or her reporting style. Also make sure the timeline works for you.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Can I be there for the inspection?</em></p>
<p>This could be a valuable learning opportunity. If your inspector refuses, this should raise a red flag.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Are you a member of a professional home inspector association? What other credentials do you hold?</em></p>
<p>Ask to see their membership ID; it provides some assurance.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Do you keep your skills up to date through continuing education?</em></p>
<p>An inspector&rsquo;s interest in continuing education shows a genuine commitment to performing at the highest level. It&rsquo;s especially important with older homes or homes with unique elements.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>What doesn&rsquo;t a home inspection cover?</em></p>
<p>For a variety of reasons, some homes will require specialty inspections that are not covered by a typical home inspection. A specialty inspection might include such items as your home&rsquo;s sewer scope, septic system, geotechnical conditions (for homes perched on steep slopes or where there are concerns regarding soil stability) or underground oil storage tank. If you have any questions about whether or not your home needs a specialty inspection, talk to your real estate agent.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
spokane-north.windermere.com/uploads/blog_post_featured_images/blog_post/images/1176/thumb_dreamstime_s_43965589.jpgHow to Hire a Home Inspector http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/how-to-hire-a-home-inspector
Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:27:00 -0700http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/how-to-hire-a-home-inspector
http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/how-to-hire-a-home-inspectorHere’s Your Spring Maintenance Checklist <p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2351/content_SpringCleanup.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 384px; float: left;" />Now that spring has sprung, let&rsquo;s clear the cobwebs and get your home ready! Here is our quick guide to spring home maintenance:</p>
<p><strong>Inspection top to bottom:</strong> Now that the weather is temperate you will want to check on how your home weathered the winter. Check the roof for leaks, the gutters for damage, and the siding for cracks. You will also want to inspect your basement or foundation for any shifts. Make repairs now to prevent further damage.</p>
<p><strong>Clean out the gutters:</strong> April showers bring May flowers&hellip; so clear out the gutters to keep rain from pooling on your roof or near your foundation.</p>
<p><strong>Pest control:</strong> Spring is mating season for eight legged critters, so sweep out cobwebs, clear debris, and check the nooks and crannies. If you live in an area prone to dangerous species like brown recluse or black widows, you may want to contact your local pest control, but otherwise household spiders do help eliminate other bugs.</p>
<p>Check your basement and attic for signs of other infestations. For more information on pest control go here: <a href="http://www.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/categories/living/posts/when-things-go-bump-in-the-night">http://www.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/categories/living/posts/when-things-go-bump-in-the-night</a></p>
<p><strong>HVAC system:</strong> If you have an air conditioner now is the time to check to make sure it is ready before summer gets here and everyone else is clamoring for maintenance. Now is a good time to check your home air filters and replace or upgrade to keep allergens at bay.</p>
<p><strong>Clear the clutter:</strong> Do a sweep around the house and get rid of junk that you don&rsquo;t use! Take a little time each week to tackle a room. Closets, playrooms, and basements can be especially daunting, but getting rid of old stuff and refreshing your space will go a long way!</p>
<p><strong>Deep clean:</strong> On a nice day open the windows, dust, wipe, scrub, and clean. You will get a nice work out and your home will look and feel so fresh after a winter of being cooped up.</p>
<p><strong>Update your d&eacute;cor:</strong> Add a splash of color to your home with small embellishments. Add a colorful vase, a lighter throw for your sofa, pretty pastel pillows, or spring-time candles, to upgrade your living space.</p>
<p><strong>Take it outdoors:</strong> Let your throw rugs, curtains, and other tapestries air our outside. Shake off the dust, spot clean what you can and let everything bask in the sun for an afternoon.</p>
<p><strong>Don&rsquo;t forget the back yard:</strong> It may not be time to start up the grill, yet, but you can get started on your outdoor entertaining checklist. Check your lawn, and if you have some spare spots start filling in with seed. Check your outdoor plants, prune, plant bulbs, start to replenish soil for your garden, and mow, so you are ready to start when the season allows.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Speaking of the grill &ndash; if you have a gas grill you will want to pull this out and perform a maintenance check. Clean everything up and check to make sure all the gas lines are clear, as these can get clogged after sitting idle all winter. Make sure the grill is clear of spiders too, as they can build webs in the tubes, causing damage to your grill. You can start to bring out your garden furniture too, or clean it up if you left it covered outside all winter. Because before you know it, it&rsquo;ll be barbeque season!</p>
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spokane-north.windermere.com/uploads/blog_post_featured_images/blog_post/images/1171/thumb_SpringCleanup.jpgHere’s Your Spring Maintenance Checklist http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/here-s-your-spring-maintenance-checklist
Thu, 12 Mar 2015 10:02:00 -0700http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/here-s-your-spring-maintenance-checklist
http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/here-s-your-spring-maintenance-checklistOregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update <p>Windermere Real Estate is proud to partner with Gardner Economics on this analysis of the Oregon and Southwest Washington real estate market. This report is designed to offer insight into the realities of the housing market. Numbers alone do not always give an accurate picture of local economic conditions; therefore our goal is to provide an explanation of what the statistics mean and how they impact the Oregon and Southwest Washington housing economy. We hope that this information may assist you with making an informed real estate decision. For further information about the real estate market in your area, please contact your Windermere agent.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Regional Economics</strong></p>
<p>Job growth in the Oregon market areas contained in this report continues to pick up steam with a total of 41,809 jobs added in 2014 &mdash;this represents an annual growth rate of 2.4 percent. In the fourth quarter alone, 14,833 jobs were added to the economy.</p>
<p>When compared to a year ago, the growth in employment was most prevalent in Multnomah County where employment rose by 10,800 jobs. This was followed by Clark County which saw total employment rise by 6,200, and Washington County rounded out the top three with an increase of 3,600 jobs.</p>
<p>Versus September of 2014, we did see job losses in half of the counties surveyed; however this is not a concern as the data used is not adjusted for seasonality and, therefore, it is not surprising to see some losses. The largest decline in employment in the last three months was seen in Marion County where over 3,000 jobs were lost. Additional substantial losses were seen in Lincoln County where employment declined by 1,080 positions. In total, 2014 was not a bad year and exceeded my forecast for the addition of 35,000 jobs.</p>
<p>As I stated in my last report, given the improving job market seen in 2014, it is not surprising to see the unemployment rate continuing to drop in every county discussed in this report. The lowest unemployment rate was in Benton County at 4.7 percent, and the highest in Klamath County, where 9.7 percent of the labor force was out of work.</p>
<p>Given the job losses that were seen in the quarter, when we compare the latest data to that seen in September we note that the unemployment rate rose in 19 of the 24 counties surveyed. Again, we can put this down to seasonal layoffs; it is not indicative of a long-term trend. The average unemployment rate across the region has now shrunk from 7.6 percent to 6.9 percent which is not bad at all.</p>
<p>I am still maintaining the &ldquo;C+&rdquo; grade that I have given the region for each quarter in 2014. The numbers are improving, but the unemployment rate is still higher than I would like to see.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2328/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_01.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 744px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2329/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_02.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 185px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2330/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_03a.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 704px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2337/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_03b.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 692px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Regional Real Estate</strong></p>
<p>Total sales in 2014 were 3.8 percent higher than those seen in 2013; however, inventory constraints in many markets kept this number below its full potential.</p>
<p>Compared to last year, the number of sales rose in all but three counties. But it is clear in many markets that transactional velocities would have been higher had there been an adequate supply of homes for sale. That said, there were several counties where transactional velocities rose well above the average and they are worthy of mention.</p>
<p>Year over year, sales increased by the greatest margin in Linn County (+ 17.6%). Additional double-digit gains were seen in Polk, Cowlitz, Tillamook, and Yamhill Counties.</p>
<p>The areas where sales slowed were all small, which makes the drop in transactions not that great&mdash;in total, the decrease in sales in Hood River, Skamania, and Benton Counties only amounted to a loss of 38 units over the previous year.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2331/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_04a.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 495px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2332/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_04b.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 168px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The average sale price for the region last quarter was $293,402&mdash;an increase of 6.6 percent over the fourth quarter of 2013. However, when compared to the third quarter average sale prices dropped by</p>
<p>3.8 percent. This is not too surprising given the fact that the sales tend to trend down, as do prices, as we run through the winter months.</p>
<p>Fourth quarter saw an annual gain in prices in 19 of the 23 counties surveyed, with the largest increases being in Cowlitz (+19.6%), Klickitat (+18.7%), Columbia (+13.8%), Lincoln (+12.5%), and Marion (+12.1%) Counties. There were four counties where prices fell, with Skamania County seeing the greatest drop in value compared to a year ago (-17.1%). This was followed by Klamath County (-12.2%) and Hood River County (-8.8%).</p>
<p>Interestingly, home prices in all but two counties (Clatsop and Skamania) are higher than seen two years ago and all but five counties have seen prices appreciate over the past five-year period.</p>
<p>Lack of inventory continues to be a major concern and, even though the market is still performing adequately, I am maintaining a &ldquo;C+&rdquo; grade.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2333/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_05a.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 473px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2334/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_05b.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 170px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>
<p>The Oregon economy continues to improve with a majority of the counties in this report seeing employment growth above the national average.</p>
<p>As compared to 2013, unemployment rates continue to fall even as the civilian labor force continues to expand. This is important as it indicates an economy where jobs are being created and improving unemployment rates are not due to people stopping their search for work.</p>
<p>Improvement in the region&rsquo;s housing markets continues to be uneven; however, aggregate price growth is still above the national average and likely to stay that way as we move through 2015.</p>
<p>Interest rates in 2014 did not trend upward as I had expected. That said, I am still predicting that rates will move higher as we continue through the year, but not at excessively fast rates. By the end of 2015, I expect to see the average 30-year fixed rate below five percent, but a lot closer to it than we stand today.</p>
<p>My call for this year is for the regional economy to continue adding jobs at rates that exceed the U.S. as a whole. In the housing market, we should see modest growth in the number of homes for sale, and this will allow prices to continue to trend higher, averaging just below five percent home price growth in 2015.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2336/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_06a.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 678px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2335/content_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_06b.gif" style="width: 600px; height: 678px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>About Matthew Gardner</strong></p>
<p><img alt="" src="/uploads/ckeditor_assets/2/pictures/2324/content_Headshot_-_Matthew_Gardner.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 181px; float: left;" />Mr. Gardner is a land use economist and principal with Gardner Economics and is considered by many to be one of the foremost real estate analysts in the Pacific Northwest.</p>
<p>In addition to managing his consulting practice, Mr. Gardner chairs the Board of Trustees at the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington; sits on the Urban Land Institutes Technical Assistance Panel; is an Advisory Board Member for the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington; and is the Editor of the Washington State University&rsquo;s Central Puget Sound Real Estate Research Report.</p>
<p>He is also the retained economist for the Master Builders Association of King &amp; Snohomish Counties. He has twenty-five years of professional experience in the U.K. and U.S.</p>
<p>He has appeared on CNN, NBC and NPR news services to discuss real estate issues, and is regularly cited in the <em>Wall Street Journal </em>and all local media.</p>
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spokane-north.windermere.com/uploads/blog_post_featured_images/blog_post/images/1168/thumb_ORgardnerBlogQ4_2014_04a.gifOregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/oregon-and-southwest-washington-real-estate-market-update--3
Wed, 04 Mar 2015 09:04:00 -0800http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/oregon-and-southwest-washington-real-estate-market-update--3
http://spokane-north.windermere.com/blogs/windermere/posts/oregon-and-southwest-washington-real-estate-market-update--3